Foster Hewitt
In 1923, the Toronto Daily Star decided to start its own radio station, CFCA. Meanwhile, Foster William Hewitt had left the University of Toronto, and a part-time job with a company that manufactured radios, to become a sports reporter. When the opportunity arose to broadcast amateur hockey games play-by-play, Hewitt jumped at the chance.
Little did he know that his first broadcast on CFCA would lead to a career calling NHL games, or that his broadcast would change the emotional involvement of Canadians in their national sport. Early concerns on the part of team owners that radio broadcasts might reduce seat sales proved to be wildly misplaced.
Hewitt’s fame grew when, in 1952, Hockey Night in Can
ada began airing on televisions across the country. Hewitt was behind the microphone for the historic first broadcast on November 1, 1952, and he quickly became the voice of hockey for generations of Canadians. Like most successful sports broadcasters, Hewitt had a distinctive voice and unique expressions, the most famous of which was, “He shoots … he scores!”
In 1957, Hewitt handed play-by-play duties for Hockey
Night in Canada to his son, Bill Hewitt. In 1963, he retired altogether to focus on his radio station, CKFH. However, in 1972 he was urged out of retirement to broadcast the Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union. Hockey fans of that generation will always remember where they were when the final goal was scored and will acknowledge that there was no one better suited than Foster Hewitt to make the timeless call: “Henderson has scored for Canada!”